Brass Stick Barometer
These brass stick barometer examples combine scientific utility with fine cabinetmaking, offering atmospheric pressure readings housed in polished timber frames.
Brass Stick Barometer
A brass stick barometer presents a tall, narrow profile designed to register changes in barometric pressure via a column of mercury. These instruments span periods from the early 18th century through to the Edwardian era, reflecting shifting domestic tastes in scientific apparatus.
The most frequent form encountered on this page is the mahogany or rosewood stick barometer, often featuring brass scales, cistern covers, and gimbal mountings for marine use. Walnut and ebonised woods also appear among the earlier and continental examples.
Originating as precision instruments for domestic or seafaring use, these pieces showcase cabinet woods such as mahogany, rosewood, and walnut paired with brass dials and glass tubes. Regional makers from London, Dublin, Liverpool, and Milan stamp their work upon the metal plates.
Materials and construction
Cabinetmakers constructed the main trunks using dense hardwoods like mahogany and rosewood, frequently selecting figured veneers for visual depth. Walnut and oak form the structure of earlier pieces, shaped to house the delicate glass tubes safely.
Brass serves as the primary metal for engraved register plates, vernier scales, cistern covers, and gimbals. Enamel and bone appear on dials and scale indicators, whilst glass protects the mercury column and gauge faces from dust and damage.
Several makers operated from London addresses like High Holborn, crafting weather stations intended to keep landlubbers and sailors alike informed of impending storms.
Assessing quality and execution
Superior examples separate themselves through the crispness of the brass engraving on the scale plates and the quality of the timber cabinetry. Master makers integrated detailed mouldings and signed silvered brass plates that remain sharp and legible.
The sophistication of the internal mechanism, such as marine gimbals or specialised sympiesometer scales, indicates a higher grade of instrument intended for serious observation or seafaring navigation.
Blunt·Alexander Wright·Bate of London·Negretti & Zambra·Charles Baker·Sandrino of Liverpool·Gilbert London·S&B Solomons·Ciresa of Milan·Bassi·Gowland London·Corti of Exeter·Malacrida of Dublin·Stebbing & Son
The Brass Stick Barometer Glossary
- Vernier
- A small sliding scale auxiliary to the main graduated scale, allowing fractional measurements of pressure to be read precisely. It is typically operated by a small milled brass knob on the side.
- Cistern
- The enclosed reservoir at the base of the barometer tube that holds the reserve mercury. In marine examples, this is often housed in an exposed brass bulb with adjustment screws.
- Sympiesometer
- A type of barometric instrument that measures atmospheric pressure using a column of oil compressed by air trapped above it. These are particularly sensitive to temperature changes.
- Gimbal
- A pivoted ring mounting that allows a marine barometer to remain vertical despite the rolling of a ship. This brass suspension system is characteristic of instruments designed for use at sea.
- Register plate
- The engraved brass or silvered plate bearing the weather descriptions and pressure numbers. Finer versions are hand-engraved with the maker's name and location.
Brass Stick Barometer: Frequently Asked Questions
How do I hang a brass stick barometer safely?
These instruments require a sturdy wall fixture capable of supporting their vertical length, ideally away from direct heat sources or sudden draughts that might affect the mercury.
Ensure the backplate is screwed firmly into wall studs or uses appropriate masonry plugs so the timber trunk hangs completely plumb.
Can these barometers still measure the weather today?
Many surviving examples retain their original mercury columns and functional mechanisms, though they function primarily as historical scientific instruments rather than precise modern meteorological tools.
Gentle setting via the vernier scale allows observers to track daily barometric trends just as Georgian and Victorian users did.
How do I identify a marine stick barometer?
Marine stick barometers include brass gimbal mounts, enclosed cistern covers, and heavy wall brackets designed to absorb motion on board a ship.
They often feature robust rosewood or mahogany cases built to withstand maritime environments and constant movement.